Increase in sales and demand of sardines due to Covid-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the suppliers' manufacturing plants in Zamboanga City experienced decreased production capacity to 30% only but managed to adjust production to the current 80% capacity based on strict health and safety protocols. During the quarantine period, sales increased significantly as demand for canned products surged not just from supermarkets and groceries but from local government units, barangays, and companies for relief operations. Suppliers would also want to boost export in 30 countries to cater to more OFWs and offer more products, particularly in the Middle East, Canada, Malaysia, the USA, and Central America. The goal is to strengthen the ASEAN markets by the end of the year 2025.